A version of Ikaruga has surfaced on the Xbox Live Arcade debug system, …

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With what would surely be considered the best addition to the Xbox Live Arcade library to date, Treasure is allegedly working on an XBLA port of Ikaruga, the ultimate demonstration of the top-scrolling space shooter genre. CVG is reporting that a download for the game has surfaced on the debug version of Xbox Live; a version typically only accessible by developers and testers.

Though previously rumored, Ikaruga has never been officially confirmed as an Xbox Live Arcade title. At this point, the only actual confirmation is that the team is currently testing builds on the debug service; but no official word, no screens, and no other details are avaliable. Thus I'm not so quick to consider this a confirmation of an Ikaruga release—as testing and releasing are two different things. For all we know, Treasure could simply be testing the debug process with a finished product before developing something completely new and fresh—it certainly means that Treasure is at least playing around with the Xbox Live Arcade platform, which they have mentioned interest in before.

Personally, I hope that this proves true and Ikaruga actually comes out on the XBLA; I'd buy it in a second. The Dreamcast and GameCube versions are notoriously hard to find, and I really wouldn't mind being able to relive all that masochistic joy that comes from trying to beat something so difficult. For those of us that love the old-school shooter genre, though, Ikaruga is the ultimate test of determination, perseverance and sheer skill, and it would be a welcome addition to the Arcade library.